Gdynia

Starting situation

The most important and a long-term goal of Gdynia’s development is to achieve permanent, socially accepted and ecologically safe growth by fully using of the environment and human resources, funds and the advantage of city’s location that will match up to European life standards. Gdynia is one of the most dynamically developing cities in Poland that provides a high quality of life. As a reaction to that number of new citizens arriving to Gdynia is constantly growing – mainly young people, interested in job market offers, educational opportunities and housing investment. The actual and predicted increase in number of Gdynia’s citizens generates necessity of creating conditions meeting the housing, educational, health, cultural and recreational needs. Despite a dynamic economic development, the employability challenges, existing poverty sphere, crime threat and increase of pathologies (especially, among youth) can be considered substantial issues in the social sphere. Gdynia backs sustainable development what involves improving quality of life for the citizens, companies, communities and social groups. Such development is not possible without the equalization of opportunities for disadvantaged social groups.

Main challenges

The main challenge faced by the city is the need to organise local communities in Gdynia districts. The problem is the lack of engagement of the inhabitants in social change and the reluctance of the residents towards the local administration (disbelief in the possibility of change, etc.). There is a need to change the relations between the city council and residents through the use of collaborative tools and the co-production of solutions for urban problems.